Steven Gerrard and Leeds United are currently in the headlines.
Sam Allardyce has backed Gerrard to replace Daniel Farke with the German under pressure at Elland Road, having guided Leeds to six defeats in the last seven Premier League outings.
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However, there is one reason why Steven Gerrard is highly unlikely to accept the Leeds job – were it offered to him – until at least the start of next season.
Steven Gerrard faces Saudi Arabia payback if he accepts Leeds United job
The 45-year-old’s stint in Saudi Arabia is currently impacting on a potential return to English football.
If Gerrard accepts a job in the United Kingdom before April, he must repay 45% of his earnings from his 18 months in charge of Al-Ettifaq.
The current 2025/26 tax year runs until April, so it would hit Gerrard – who Brenden Aaronson admires – in his own wallet if he chose to replace Farke in the coming weeks or months, allegedly to the tune of around £10m.
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Leeds could, of course, tempt the Liverpool legend to still make the move by paying him the cash he would have to give back to Al-Ettifaq, although that in itself feels unlikely to happen considering The 49ers do not seem that desperate to appoint the man from Whiston.
The 49ers do admire Steven Gerrard and a post-April appointment cannot be ruled out
While we doubt The 49ers would pay Gerrard the £10m fee he risks losing to join Leeds before April, a move to Yorkshire after that cannot be ruled out.
The 49ers tried to hire Gerrard for Rangers after firing Russell Martin back in October, but with the Liverpudlian and his family still living in Bahrain, it made a move difficult on a personal level.
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Nevertheless, Sky Sports claimed that he was left impressed by talks with The 49ers and would welcome further discussions in the future, leaving the door open to a potential Leeds move once April has passed.
Gerrard wanted to join Leeds in 2023 before Farke was hired – according to 90min – so if the Whites are not settled on the managerial front by April, be sure to keep an eye out for his name.
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